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Supply-chain strategies for essential medicines in rural western Kenya during COVID-19.
Tran, Dan N; Were, Phelix M; Kangogo, Kibet; Amisi, James A; Manji, Imran; Pastakia, Sonak D; Vedanthan, Rajesh.
  • Tran DN; Department of Pharmacy Practice, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, United States of America (USA).
  • Were PM; Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare, Eldoret, Kenya.
  • Kangogo K; Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare, Eldoret, Kenya.
  • Amisi JA; Department of Family Medicine, Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya.
  • Manji I; Department of Pharmacy, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya.
  • Pastakia SD; Department of Pharmacy Practice, Purdue University College of Pharmacy, 640 Eskenazi Ave, West Lafayette, IN 46202, USA.
  • Vedanthan R; Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA.
Bull World Health Organ ; 99(5): 388-392, 2021 May 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1218474
ABSTRACT

PROBLEM:

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted health systems worldwide and threatened the supply of essential medicines. Especially affected are vulnerable patients in low- and middle-income countries who can only afford access to public health systems.

APPROACH:

Soon after physical distancing and curfew orders began on 15 March 2020 in Kenya, we rapidly implemented three supply-chain strategies to ensure a continuous supply of essential medicines while minimizing patients' COVID-19 exposure risks. We redistributed central stocks of medicines to peripheral health facilities to ensure local availability for several months. We equipped smaller, remote health facilities with medicine tackle boxes. We also made deliveries of medicines to patients with difficulty reaching facilities. LOCAL

SETTING:

Τo implement these strategies we leveraged our 30-year partnership with local health authorities in rural western Kenya and the existing revolving fund pharmacy scheme serving 85 peripheral health centres. RELEVANT CHANGES In April 2020, stocks of essential chronic and non-chronic disease medicines redistributed to peripheral health facilities increased to 835 140 units, as compared with 316 330 units in April 2019. We provided medicine tackle boxes to an additional 46 health facilities. Our team successfully delivered medications to 264 out of 311 patients (84.9%) with noncommunicable diseases whom we were able to reach. LESSONS LEARNT Our revolving fund pharmacy model has ensured that patients' access to essential medicines has not been interrupted during the pandemic. Success was built on a community approach to extend pharmaceutical services, adapting our current supply-chain infrastructure and working quickly in partnership with local health authorities.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pharmacies / Rural Health Services / Drugs, Essential / Developing Countries / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: Bull World Health Organ Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pharmacies / Rural Health Services / Drugs, Essential / Developing Countries / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: Bull World Health Organ Year: 2021 Document Type: Article